Rogeti RG-1 geared tripod head

[Keith Cooper]

I've been asked to have a look at the new Rogeti RG-1 geared tripod head.



The head tilt mechanism (±20º)



I'm looking at it from the POV of my architectural photography, so won't be loading it up with big long lenses (rated load is 10kg). If anyone has any questions, please do let me know - I'll see what additional info I can find for the head, since it's not been formally announced yet (AFAIK).

I've used the Rogeti TSE frame for mounting my Canon 17/24/50mm TS-E lenses and it's been very useful for stitching shifted shots, to avoid parallax



- I'm curious to see how the head performs for my architectural photography where good levelling is essential.

Of course, one problem is that it makes most of my assorted tripods look a bit light ;-)

--
bye for now
Keith Cooper

 

[GerryAustin]

I just ordered this Rogeti head. Other geared heads are bulky and waste valuable space in a small gear bag (for carryon luggage). The Archa-Swiss is way more than I would consider spending. If I take good care of it, does it seem sturdy? I hear that the Archa-Swiss gears are delicate, and it's not as sturdy as you might expect (for the price). Is this a good alternative for a lot less money?

I have high hopes since the Rogeti TSE Frame is so useful.

My Gitzo Traveler tripod made it possible not to check luggage. Every inch counts.

Thanks

 

[Keith Cooper]

I've taken it on a couple of paying jobs now and in looking at my post production work I can see how the accuracy of levelling has improved.

Both jobs were quite rushed (interior photography) with me having to move around a lot to avoid work still going on and stuff being moved. I was also taking lots of up/down stitched shots with the TS-E 17mm where accurate levelling is extra important.

The head just feels very solid. I've also been trying it with a new tilt/shift M645->RF adapter and my EOS RP (here with a Mamiya 35/3.5 giving ±15mm of shift)





--
bye for now
Keith Cooper

 

[Chesapeake Imagery]

The head just feels very solid. I've also been trying it with a new tilt/shift M645->RF adapter and my EOS RP (here with a Mamiya 35/3.5 giving ±15mm of shift)

Keith: Not to hijack the thread, but I was not aware of the tilt/shift adaptor. Do you plan to/did you write up anything on that kit? I have the Canon 24mm TSE which I use mostly for landscapes and buildings; I would like to play with tilt/shift for portraiture, but I'm not in a position to shell out for, say the 90mm Canon TSE. A quick Google reveals you can pick up an old Mamiya manual lens relatively cheap. Do you have any comments regarding this adaptor and a vintage lens for portraiture? Thanks.

 

[Keith Cooper]

The head just feels very solid. I've also been trying it with a new tilt/shift M645->RF adapter and my EOS RP (here with a Mamiya 35/3.5 giving ±15mm of shift)

Keith: Not to hijack the thread, but I was not aware of the tilt/shift adaptor. Do you plan to/did you write up anything on that kit? I have the Canon 24mm TSE which I use mostly for landscapes and buildings; I would like to play with tilt/shift for portraiture, but I'm not in a position to shell out for, say the 90mm Canon TSE. A quick Google reveals you can pick up an old Mamiya manual lens relatively cheap. Do you have any comments regarding this adaptor and a vintage lens for portraiture? Thanks.

I tried out the lenses a while ago with a basic M645->EF shift adapter.

Using Mamiya 645 medium format lenses as shift lenses with an adapter

Using mamiya 645 medium format lenses with a shift adapter on a Canon 1Ds3 full frame 35mm DSLR. Sekor 35/55/80/210mm tested

www.northlight-images.co.uk

The Fotodiox M645->RF one is one I got just recently to try out for a new review. My main interest (as an architectural photographer) is the shift ability, where the RF mount and adapter, combined with the large image circle of the M645 lenses gives up to 15mm of shift (compared with 12mm for my TS-E lenses). Using a mirrorless body with the adapter is rather more flexible than the DSLR - I do have an M645->Nikon Z T/S adapter here that was sent by mistake (only a loan!), but unfortunately no Z body to test it with :-(

I'm hoping to have something written up later next week, however I don't really do portraiture at all, so I can't help very much in that respect ;-)

Here are (10 degree) tilted shots taken with full left tilt (55mm @f/2.8 and 210mm @f/4)







10 degrees is quite a bit of tilt, so could give some interesting effects.

--
bye for now
Keith Cooper

 

[Ellis Vener]

Keith Cooper wrote:

“I’ve taken it on a couple of paying jobs now and in looking at my post production work I can see how the accuracy of levelling has improved.

Both jobs were quite rushed (interior photography) with me having to move around a lot to avoid work still going on and stuff being moved. I was also taking lots of up/down stitched shots with the TS-E 17mm where accurate levelling is extra important.

The head just feels very solid. I've also been trying it with a new tilt/shift M645->RF adapter and my EOS RP (here with a Mamiya 35/3.5 giving ±15mm of shift)





“

Keith,

It looks to be somewhere between the size of the geared version of the Arca-Swiss D4 head and the C1 “Cube”. If you have tried either of those how do the three compare?

i like Rogetti placing the horizontal tilt movement underneath the pitch (fore/aft) tilt. It also looks like the roll axis might be in the same plane as the pitch axis. Am I right about that? If so I like that idea a lot.

How finely pitched is the gearing? Can the geared tilt movements be unlocked for gross moves?

--
Ellis Vener
To see my work please visit http://www.ellisvener.com
Or on instagram @therealellisv

 

[Keith Cooper]

It looks to be somewhere between the size of the geared version of the Arca-Swiss D4 head and the C1 “Cube”. If you have tried either of those how do the three compare?

No - my funds have never run that far I'm afraid ;-)

i like Rogetti placing the horizontal tilt movement underneath the pitch (fore/aft) tilt. It also looks like the roll axis might be in the same plane as the pitch axis. Am I right about that? If so I like that idea a lot.

Don't quite know what you mean? Do the photos below help?

How finely pitched is the gearing? Can the geared tilt movements be unlocked for gross moves?

Two pics showing 1 turn's worth of movement. There is only a clutch for pitch (from this POV) - roll does not have one









--
bye for now
Keith Cooper

 

[Ellis Vener]

It looks to be somewhere between the size of the geared version of the Arca-Swiss D4 head and the C1 “Cube”. If you have tried either of those how do the three compare?

No - my funds have never run that far I'm afraid ;-)

I I thought Arca-Swiss might might have loaned you either for review..

i like Rogetti placing the horizontal tilt movement underneath the pitch (fore/aft) tilt. It also looks like the roll axis might be in the same plane as the pitch axis. Am I right about that? If so I like that idea a lot.

Don't quite know what you mean? Do the photos below help?

sort of. Think of the roll arc as a section of a circle. Where’s the axis of the curve angle?

How finely pitched is the gearing? Can the geared tilt movements be unlocked for gross moves?

Two pics showing 1 turn's worth of movement. There is only a clutch for pitch (from this POV) - roll does not have one





--
bye for now
Keith Cooper

--
Ellis Vener
To see my work please visit http://www.ellisvener.com
Or on instagram @therealellisv

 

[Keith Cooper]

It looks to be somewhere between the size of the geared version of the Arca-Swiss D4 head and the C1 “Cube”. If you have tried either of those how do the three compare?

No - my funds have never run that far I'm afraid ;-)

I I thought Arca-Swiss might might have loaned you either for review..

Not got round to that one yet ;-)

Nearest I can compare with is my BenroGD3WH at ~1/3 price and 6kg rating vs 10kg for the RG-1

Of course, the added precision/solidity of the RG-1 head now shows up any looseness in the tripod I was using ;-)

i like Rogetti placing the horizontal tilt movement underneath the pitch (fore/aft) tilt. It also looks like the roll axis might be in the same plane as the pitch axis. Am I right about that? If so I like that idea a lot.

Don't quite know what you mean? Do the photos below help?

sort of. Think of the roll arc as a section of a circle. Where’s the axis of the curve angle?

For the bottom adjustment the axis seems to be at about the vertical level, so offset by ~15mm

Looks to be so as to keep the overall size down and not have too small a radius for the curved gear plate

How finely pitched is the gearing? Can the geared tilt movements be unlocked for gross moves?

Two pics showing 1 turn's worth of movement. There is only a clutch for pitch (from this POV) - roll does not have one

I find the RG-1 quicker to set up accurately than my other stuff, which helps my style of work. I use tripods out of necessity, not from any desire to 'slow down' or whatever the current 'advice' is ;-)



--
bye for now
Keith Cooper

 

[Ellis Vener]

It looks to be somewhere between the size of the geared version of the Arca-Swiss D4 head and the C1 “Cube”. If you have tried either of those how do the three compare?

No - my funds have never run that far I'm afraid ;-)

I I thought Arca-Swiss might might have loaned you either for review..

Not got round to that one yet ;-)

Nearest I can compare with is my BenroGD3WH at ~1/3 price and 6kg rating vs 10kg for the RG-1

Of course, the added precision/solidity of the RG-1 head now shows up any looseness in the tripod I was using ;-)

Which is?

i like Rogetti placing the horizontal tilt movement underneath the pitch (fore/aft) tilt. It also looks like the roll axis might be in the same plane as the pitch axis. Am I right about that? If so I like that idea a lot.

Don't quite know what you mean? Do the photos below help?

sort of. Think of the roll arc as a section of a circle. Where’s the axis of the curve angle?

For the bottom adjustment the axis seems to be at about the vertical level, so offset by ~15mm

I am confused. Is the pitch axis ~15mm above or below the roll axis?

Looks to be so as to keep the overall size down and not have too small a radius for the curved gear plate

How finely pitched is the gearing? Can the geared tilt movements be unlocked for gross moves?

Two pics showing 1 turn's worth of movement. There is only a clutch for pitch (from this POV) - roll does not have one

I find the RG-1 quicker to set up accurately than my other stuff, which helps my style of work. I use tripods out of necessity, not from any desire to 'slow down' or whatever the current 'advice' is ;-)

--
bye for now
Keith Cooper

--
Ellis Vener
To see my work please visit http://www.ellisvener.com
Or on instagram @therealellisv

 

[Keith Cooper]

It looks to be somewhere between the size of the geared version of the Arca-Swiss D4 head and the C1 “Cube”. If you have tried either of those how do the three compare?

No - my funds have never run that far I'm afraid ;-)

I I thought Arca-Swiss might might have loaned you either for review..

Not got round to that one yet ;-)

Nearest I can compare with is my BenroGD3WH at ~1/3 price and 6kg rating vs 10kg for the RG-1

Of course, the added precision/solidity of the RG-1 head now shows up any looseness in the tripod I was using ;-)

Which is?

A generic carbon fibre one from China - perfectly good for carting round building sites and factories, but once I put a more precise head on it, the quality of the head shows through ;-)

For my GigaPan I use a survey tripod (that also takes my Pentax Total Station) but that's not ideal (to say the least) for carpets and polished wooden floors (without a proper spreader)

Something else I'll have to look into ;-)

 

[GerryAustin]

This is the amount of space I am trying to work with when I carry gear without checked luggage. There is not enough room for the Benro geared hed. I think the Rogeti will fit well.



I have the TSE Frame from Rogeti in the black case along with a CamRanger. Any extra lens has it's own small case. And, there is the Gitzo Traveler Tripod and a Profoto B10.

 

[GerryAustin]

I was curious how much space this geared head will take up in a case. A person from Rogeti sent me this photo. A customer sent it to him.

 

[Keith Cooper]

I was curious how much space this geared head will take up in a case. A person from Rogeti sent me this photo. A customer sent it to him.

The dimensions in the specs are



If you tip the top plate over by 90º it can save a bit of room - or might fit a particular space better.



I've got a longer write-up on the Northlight Images web site if anyone's interested

--
bye for now
Keith Cooper

 

[Ellis Vener]

I've been asked to have a look at the new Rogeti RG-1 geared tripod head.



The head tilt mechanism (±20º)



I'm looking at it from the POV of my architectural photography, so won't be loading it up with big long lenses (rated load is 10kg). If anyone has any questions, please do let me know - I'll see what additional info I can find for the head, since it's not been formally announced yet (AFAIK).

I've used the Rogeti TSE frame for mounting my Canon 17/24/50mm TS-E lenses and it's been very useful for stitching shifted shots, to avoid parallax



- I'm curious to see how the head performs for my architectural photography where good levelling is essential.

Of course, one problem is that it makes most of my assorted tripods look a bit light ;-)

--
bye for now
Keith Cooper

Time and time again Keith Cooper has proved himself to be one of the most reliable sources of information I know of for straightforward honest information about equipment for the professional photographer.



Sadly for Rogeti I don’t need another tripod head! But it looks to very well made and an extremely intelligent design. I hope they do gangbusters with it.

--
Ellis Vener
To see my work please visit http://www.ellisvener.com
Or on instagram @therealellisv

 

[NancyP]

Agree, this looks like a great head, and overkill for me. Gear lust, not to be indulged (yet? ever?). For landscape and macro, use of a geared head is more of a "preference", not a "need". My cheaper, heavier, less precise geared head Manfrotto 410) gets use near the car, but I don't haul it great distances. I stick with a lightweight ball head and lightweight tripod for my hikes, though - the tripod you have with you is better than the tripod in the car, and if it takes a few tries to get the framing right with a ball head, well, that's a decent compromise when you are hiking 8 or 10 miles with the thing.

 

[GerryAustin]

For landscapes, I would not buy one either. For architecture, it's essential.

Mine arrived. I am very impressed with it.

I probably should have gone to B&H first to see the Arca-Swiss d4 Tripod Head (non cube). I don't live in New York. I have been so impressed with the Rogeti TSE Frame. I had a good feeling that they were planning to up the game on geared head design. I am not disappointed. It feels solid. The gears function well. Very compact and design seems more efficient than what I see in the photos of the Arca.

I have a laser level and I checked out the levels on this head. They seem perfect.

For me, it's exciting that this fits in my smaller bag and it's solid. I can avoid checking luggage.






Sony A7RIV, 24 and 17 tilt-shift, TSE Frame, Rogetti Head, CamRanger 2 and clamp


Stitched photos using the TSE Frame

 

[NancyP]

Nice photo. Architectural photography is an admirable art and craft.

 

[Ellis Vener]

I already have a great double-tilt and double panning head, a Foba ASMIA with an RRS PC-1 clamp on top and for very fine adjustments I can add a Manfrotto 308 leveling platform between the ASMIA and the PC-1, or I can just use the 308+PC-1 combination on the leveling base installed in my ProMediaGear TR344L.

(You are witnessing a self-confessed gearhead publically trying to talk himself out of buying the Rogeti head.)

--
Ellis Vener
To see my work please visit http://www.ellisvener.com
Or on instagram @therealellisv

 

[GerryAustin]

For landscape or activity outside (where there is the potential of dirt), a Foba ASMIA is perfect. I would not take this geared head someplace where there is the potential of getting sand in the gears.

I take photos for a builder/general contractor. I need to show door frames, edges of walls and cabinets on the sides of the photo. Everything has to be square.

Tiny adjustments with the gears make the tilt-shift lens level. If the lens is not perfectly lined up, the edges are out of wack. That takes time to fix in post-production. You lose part of the photo. My access to these spaces is often limited. Especially in a store. If someone comes in to shop, I usually need to stop photographing.

In this situation, using a hand adjusted head could drive you crazy. It's a pleasure to use something this precise. You cannot put this in checked luggage. Every inch counts. That is why I am very excited about this head.

At first, I wish I could have compared this with the Arca-Swiss d4 side by side. The more study the photos and the d4 and play with this new head, I am convinced that this is the better choice for me. For landscapes, I would not buy this head.


This is a big office taking up two floors. I needed to document many areas like this. A hand adjusted head would drive a person nuts.




I only get a limited amount of time. Someone came in to shop and I needed to stop shooting. I only had about 10 minutes to get this shot.




I only had a very short amount of time for access to this store. I am shooting for the builder and not the retailer

These are examples where heads like this are essential.